Despite winning the hitout count by seven in the first quarter, the Blues lost the clearance count by six and were outscored by 14 points from this source.

Q1 32:45

The siren has sounded to end Q1.

Q1 32:42

BEHINDBlues (Bryce Gibbs)

Q1 30:53

GOALTigers (Dan Butler)

Q1 28:58

Matthew Kreuzer wins his team's fourth centre bounce clearance and launches their first goal from stoppages. Kreuzer has won a gamehigh three clearances.

Q1 28:56

GOALBlues (Jacob Weitering)

Q1 27:23

Richmond lead the clearance count 105 and it has generated four scores to none from this source.

Q1 27:21

GOALTigers (Dion Prestia)

Q1 26:08

GOALBlues (Dennis Armfield)

Q1 25:00

BEHINDBlues (Jack Silvagni)

Q1 22:01

BEHINDTigers (Josh Caddy)

Q1 20:20

With that goal to Dan Butler the Tigers have scored 25 points from intercept possessions won in attacking midfield. They scored 19 points from this source in 2016, ranked eighth.

Q1 20:18

GOALTigers (Dan Butler)

Q1 16:56

Carlton's kicking efficiency is just 48 per cent, 26 per cent lower than Richmond's. The Blues lost the kicking efficiency differential by seven per cent in the preseason, the worst differential of any side.

Q1 16:54

GOALTigers (Dustin Martin)

Q1 14:54

BEHINDTigers (Jack Riewoldt)

Q1 13:37

BEHINDBlues (Jack Silvagni)

Q1 11:40

Carlton kick back to back goals from turnovers. It scored 45 points per game from this source in 2016, the fourthfewest in the AFL.

Q1 11:38

GOALBlues (Bryce Gibbs)

Q1 10:32

GOALBlues (Matthew Kreuzer)

Q1 07:39

Richmond won just 17 intercept possessions per game in attacking midfield in 2016, the thirdfewest of any side. It has won three already tonight and launched two goals from this source.

Q1 07:37

GOALTigers (Trent Cotchin)

Q1 05:23

Richmond lead the clearance count 31. Toby Nankervis has won the last two clearances for the Tigers with his second launching his team's first goal from this source.

Q1 05:21

GOALTigers (Toby Nankervis)

Q1 04:21

BEHINDTigers (Reece Conca)

Q1 02:48

GOALTigers (Jason Castagna)

Q1 00:00

Q1 is now underway.

Q0 00:10

Richmond won the contested possession count by nine per game in the preseason (the fourth-best differential of any side) and the clearance count by five (ranked fifth). It finished the 2016 home and away season ranked 10th and 13th in these statistics.

Q0 00:10

Carlton lost the time in forward half by 13 minutes per game in the preseason (the second-worst differential of any side) and the inside 50 count by 16 (the worst differential) on its way to scoring just 58 points per game (the fewest of any side).

Q0 00:-20

Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.

Q0 00:-30

Welcome to MCG for the Carlton v Richmond Round 1 clash.

Match report: Dusty blows away Blues

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RICHMOND has been vindicated for its aggressive off-season recruiting and new attacking game style, launching the new season at the MCG with a 43-point win over a young and brave Carlton on Thursday night.

Dominant for the first two quarters, the Tigers stumbled in the third but recovered to win the now traditional season opener for the fourth straight season, 20.12 (132) to 14.5 (89).

He was well supported by midfield recruit Dion Prestia (28 possessions and six clearances), who slotted into the centre square and allowed captain Trent Cotchin (18 and one goal) to spend long minutes rotating as the Tigers' deepest forward.

It was a good night for all four of Richmond's debutants, with ruckman Toby Nankervis throwing his weight around at stoppages to finish with 27 hit-outs and two goals, while forward Dan Butler (two goals and five inside 50s) impressed.

The additions of Butler and elevated rookie Jason Castagna gave the team a small and mobile forward line that applied pressure unlike the Tigers of recent seasons.

Their final tackle count of 88 (20 more than Carlton's 68) was more than the team had registered in any game last season.

"I thought our defensive press was really good tonight and I thought our pressure up forward was outstanding and certainly led to a number of scores from turnovers," coach Damien Hardwick said.

"I think we kicked 11 goals from forward-half turnovers, which is a number we haven't had for a long time.

"To see our forwards and mids put on the pressure they did, and our backs capture those errors was a great sight I think for our fans."

Hardwick promised to take his foot off the brakes this season and the Tigers' attacking approach was on show from the opening minutes as they ran in waves and handballed through traffic.

They built a 44-point lead halfway through the second quarter, with Martin twice finding space inside 50 to snap classy goals as Richmond's high handball game came off effortlessly.

Carlton was trying to slow the game down, but it was an approach that played into the Tigers' hands as they pressured the Blues' inexperienced defenders and forced them into turnovers, playing the game in their own half.

The Blues entered the half-time break in disarray, but they would be encouraged by a third-quarter recovery that saw them kick five goals to two on the back of a resurgent midfield.

Young gun Jacob Weitering played exclusively as a forward and kicked three goals in an entertaining battle with star defender Alex Rance, but he finished the match with a hip complaint.

More pain could come when the Match Review Panel sits on Monday, with key forward Levi Casboult sure to be scrutinised for a high bump on Tiger Nick Vlastuin.

MEDICAL ROOMCarlton: Jacob Weitering received a knock to his hip in the opening minute but was able to play out the game and should be fine, according to Boltond. Jed Lamb, who was withdrawn late, had swelling in his knee but the coach confident he would only miss one match.

Richmond: The Tigers escaped injury free, but recruit Josh Caddy did spend time on the sidelines getting attention to a calf. He also played out the match and Hardwick was not concerned.

NEXT UPThe Tigers return to the Thursday night stage to take on Collingwood in round two and will not want to be reminded of their one-point loss in the same fixture last year. Carlton takes on Melbourne at the MCG on April 2, giving them a 10-day break.